Throwback Thursday: my son Scott 1995. This was taken at the bus stop right across from the Rapid train stop by West Side Market in Cleveland. I’ll never forget it because I was so worried Scott wouldn’t bond with me again. He and Iyende had spent the summer with my parents in Cincinnati because I’d gotten evicted from my apartment and needed to work a bunch and get a place. I’d already been separated from him previously, when he was just a few months old, due to severe postpartum depression. My uncle and aunt very kindly took care of him for a few months.

Then this happened about 5, 6 months after I’d gotten him back the first time, and though he seemed to know me he didn’t smile much. So on this day, I took the kids to our favorite thrift store, Unique, and then to the market. We sat on the bench for a moment, my new apartment was right across from the train station a few stops up so I know I was planning to walk down to the platform. It was so pleasant just sitting there with my kids, having an ordinary day. The sun was shining and we were so happy. All the stress and worry over that past summer just washed away, when my baby smiled.